Liquid dispensing apparatus



' Feb. 16 1937. BRADLEY v I 2,070,560

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1931 IN VE N 70/7. EH/c H. BRADLEY his ATTORNEY Patented Feb. l6 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v I 2,070,560 mourn DISPENSING APPARATUS Eric H. Bradley, National Pumps corporation of Ohio Dayton, Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

Ohio,- assignor to Application July 23, 1931, Serial No. 552,573

7 Claims. (01. 221-95) matically closing but manually opened valve for controlling the discharge of the liquid. Because of the fire hazard which results from the accidental discharge of gasoline it is desirable that the discharge of the gasoline from such a pumpshould be immediately interrupted when the delivery is completed. It has been proposed hertofore to provide for the automatic interruption of, the discharge by so connecting the discharge controlling device with the hose that when the hose is pulled from its normal position to filling position the discharge controlling device will initiate the delivery of liquid and when the pull on the hose is relieved, so that it can be returned to its normal positiomthe discharge controlling device will interrupt the discharge. However, the manner of eflecting the control as used in these prior devices was such that it did not fully meet the requirements and the apparatus was unsatisfactory.

. One object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus in which the discharge of liquid'will be-controlled by the movement of the such an apparatus in which the actuating device,

which controls the discharge of the liquid, will be operated to initiate such discharge when'the hose is moved either outwardly or laterally with relation to the apparatus as a wholes A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the hose will be automatically returned to its normal position and the discharge of liquid interrupted should the hose be dropped or laid down by the operator without effort on -his part to return it to its normal position.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'such an apparatus in which the connection between the actuating device which controls the discharge of the liquid and the hose will be such that this connection will not be interfered with or adversely afiected by the torsional twisting of the hose.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the connection between the hose and the actuating device will be broken if subjected to abnormal strain, as when the hose is torn from the pump.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which the discharge oi the bodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to a meterpump, the main features of construction and operation of which are at 5. Mounted within this housing is a pump 6 driven by a motor la, the pump and motor being shown conventionally. The pump is connected with'a discharge pipe 1, interposed in which is the usual 'meter 8. Connected with the discharge pipe is a delivery conduit which is capable of swinging movement to permit it to be extended to the point'of delivery, and in the particular type of pump here shown the upper end of the discharge pipe extends outwardly beyond the housing and the delivery conduit is in the form of a flexible hose 9, the inner end portion of whichis connected with the discharge pipe and suspended therefrom in such a manner that it will extend in a generally downward direction and usually it will hang in an upright and substantially vertical position when not in use. The outer or discharge end of the delivery conduit has connected therewith a nozzle iii inwhich -is mounted a valve ll,

not here shown in detail, but which is usually of discharge pipe I. The supporting member has in its outer end an opening through which the hasp of a padlock I! may be inserted to retain the nozzle thereon, when the pump is to be locked up.

overnight, and this padlock also serves to prevent the handle 13 from being manipulated to open the valve ll. The delivery of liquid from the pump being controlled by the valve in the nozzle it is necessary that the hose should remain full of liquid if the next customer is to receive full measure and in order to prevent the hose from being drained, between delivery operations, when the pump is idle, I have interposed in the nozzle, between the valve II and the hose an outwardly opening check valve l8 which is held to its seat by a spring I! of such strength that the valve will not open under the weight or gravity pressure of the liquid in the hose but will open under pump pressure.

In the present embodiment of the invention thedischarge of the liquid is controlled by controlling the operation of the pump by the motor and this is effected by starting and stopping the motor. It will be obvious, however, that the control of the discharging of liquid may be effected in various ways. The motor 1 which operates the pump is an electric motor and is controlled'by a switch in the usual manner. The switch forms no part of the present invention and it is not here illustrated, the switch casing only being shown, at 20. An operating member, such as a rod 2|, extends into the casing and is connected with the switch and thisrod is also operatively connected with an actuating device, here shoiavn as a lever 22 pivotally mounted at 23, in the present instance'on the supporting member I 6. Inthe form here. shown, the lower end of this lever is turned downwardly and is provided with a slot 221: and the upper end of the operating rod 2| is bent substantially at right angles to the length of the rod and inserted in the slot, as shown at 24, thus establishing a lost motion connection between the lever and the rod. The upper end of the lever 22 is operatively connected with the hose and, in the arrangement here illustrated, it extends through a slot 25 in the housing and is connected with one end of a flexible member or cable26 which extends downwardly therefrom about a suitable guide 21 and has its other end connected with the hose 9 at a point spaced from direction in which it may be moved when extend-' ed to delivery position, that is either outwardly or laterally, will cause the lever to be operated. To facilitate the operation when the hose is moved laterally I prefer that the guide 21 shall be swiveled and thatguide is here shown as a sheave rotatably' mounted in a sheave block 28 which tothe direction of'pull on the hose.

imparted-thereto and by the use of a flexible connection between the hose and the lever I prevent any ill efiects from this twisting of the hose and the apparatus will operate with freedom even though a substantial twist may have been imparted to the hose. Preferably the flexible member is so connected with the hose that it may be adjusted lengthwise thereof to accommodatethe point of connection to the'length of the flexible member or to compensate for a stretch of hose. In the present instance, the end of the flexible member is connectedwith a collar 30 which is clamped about the hose.-

When the pull on the hose is relieved the actuating lever is automatically returned to its normal position, in which position the switch is open, and is retained in that position until a pull is gain'exerted on the hose. In the present construction, this is accomplished by means of a spring 3| connected with the lever 22 and with a fixed part of the structure and so arranged that it will exert a constant retractile force upon the lever and whenever this force exceeds the resistance offered by the hose to the movement of the lever the latter will be returned to its normal position. The lost motion connection between the switch operating rod 2| and the lever permits the latter to have a greater movement than it-is necessary to impart to the switch but due to this lost motion connection the switch will not be closed by the spring 3| until the last porment of the latter. As here shown, a cross bar 33 is rigidly secured to the actuating rod and one end of this bar is connected with the spring 32, in the present instance by a bolt 34 and nuts 35 which permit the tension of the spring 32 to be regulated. To prevent the force of the spring from being exerted on the switch members with possible resultant injury I have connected to the other end of the cross bar 33 a stop 36 which is so arranged that when the switch has been moved to its fully open position the stop will engage the switch casing and prevent the further movement of the operating rod 2|. As here illustrated, the

stop 36 is secured to the cross bar 33 by a pin 31 which may be inserted in any one of a series of holes 38 in the stop so that the effective position thereof may be varied.

I also prefer to interpose a spring between the flexible member 26 and the lever 22, as shown at 39, to protect the hose and other parts of the mechanism against excessive strain. The lever 22 is arranged above the nozzle support I5 and when fully extended contacts with that support. A violent pull on the hose mightcause injury to some .part of the apparatus if the movement of the hose was positively stopped by the contact of the lever with the support, but the s ing permits oi a limited further movement of he hose and gradually checks that movement, thus not only protecting the mechanism but also permitting the hose tov be extended a greater distance than would otherwise be possible. Thespring further serves to keep the slack out ofthe flexible member and prevents that member from kinking.

It sometimes happens that the delivery hose and in such an event it is necessary that the dis-.- charge of liquid be instantly stopped to avoid waste of gasoline and a serious fire hazard. I have therefore interposed between the flexible member 26 and the actuating lever 22 a yieldable device which serves to connect the flexible mem- ,ber with the lever and which will yield under abnormal strain to interrupt that connection and release the lever from the flexible member and from the hose, thereby permitting the switch to be opened. The yieldable connection is here shown as a hook 40 of ductile material, such as brass, which is hooked through the eye on the end of the spring 39. This hook is of sufiicient strength to maintain the connection under all normal conditions but will yield under abnormal strain. I have also shownthe other end of the flexible member connected with the clamp 30 on the hose by a similar hook 4| and it will be understood that the yieldable connection may be employed at either or both points as may seem desirable. a

I It will also be noted that the arrangement of the actuating lever is such that when the nozzle is mounted on the supporting hook IS the guard 14 will extend into the path of the adjacent end of the lever and will prevent the latter from being moved far enough to close the switch, thereby preventing themechanism from being tampered with and the motor started by unauthorized persons.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may ocour to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a dispensing apparatus comprising a discharge pipe, a deliveryconduit connected with said discharge pipe and having its inner end portion suspended for swinging movemnt transverse to its length, and power operated means for discharging liquid through said pipe and said conmovement of said conduit in any one of a plurality of directions. will cause said device to initiate said discharge, the connection between said flexible member and one of said parts being constructed to yield under abnormal strain and disconnect said flexible member irom said part.

2. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a delivery conduit having its-inner end portion supported for swinging movement transverse to its length, a pump to discharge liquid through said conduit, and a motor to operate said pump, mechanism to control the operation of said pump by said motor and including an actuating device and means for holdingsaid device normally in a position to prevent the operation of said pump by said motor, a swiveled guide supported .below said actuating device, and a'flexibl'e'member connected at one end with said device, extending about said guide and connected at its other end. with said .conduit at a point spaced from the inner end of said conduit.

, 3. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, a delivery conduit having its inner end portion supported for swinging movement transverse to its length,

a pump to discharge liquid through said conduit;

and a motor to operate said pump, mechanism to control the. operation of said pump by said motor and including an actuating device and means for holding said device normally in a position to prevent the operation of said pump by said motor, a swiveled guide supported below said actuating device, a flexible member connected at one end with said device, extending about said de and connected at its other end with said conduit at a point spaced from the inner end of said conduit, and a spring interposed betweensaid flexible member and one of the parts with which it is connected.

' 4. In, a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a delivery conduit having its inner end portion supported for swinging movement transverse to its length, a pump to discharge liquid through said conduit and a motor to operate said pump, mechanism to control the operation of said pump by said motor and including an actuating device and means for holding said device normally in a positionto prevent the operation of said pump by said motor, and a flexible member connecting said device with said conduit and so arranged that the transverse movement of said conduit in any one of a plurality of directions will cause said device to initiate the operation of said pump by said motor, the connection between said flexible member and one of the parts with which it is connected including a yieldable device adapted to yield under abnormal strain and disconnect said conduit from said actuating device.

5. In a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a delivery conduit having its inner end supported for swinging movement transverse to itslength, a pump to deliver liquid to said conduit, an electric motor to operate said pump, and a switch for said motor, a lever, means for operatively connecting said lever with said switch, means tending to move said lever to a position to open said switch, a swiveled guide arranged below said lever, and a flexible member connected atone end with said lever, extending about said guide and conect-ed at its other end with said conduit at a point spaced from the inner end of said conduit.

6. In a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising I a delivery conduit having its inner end supported for swinging movement transverse to its length, a pump to deliver liquid to said conduit, an electric motor to operate said pump, and a switch for said motor, an operating member forsaid switch, a lever, a lost motion connection between said lever and said operating member, a spring acting on said lever to cause the same to impart movement to said operating member in a direction to open said switch, and a flexible member connecting said lever with said conduit at a point spaced from the inner end of the conduit.

7. In a dispensing apparatus comprising a de livery conduit having its inner end supported for swinging movement transverse to its length and having at its outer end a nozzle provided with a valve, an actuating handle for said valve'and a guard for said handle, said guard and said handle having alined slots, apump to deliver liquid to said conduit, an electric motor to operate-said pump, and a switch for said motor, a lever, means for operatively connecting said lever with said switch, a spring acting on' said lever to move the same in a direction to open said switch, a flexible member connecting said lever with said conduit nozzle, and locking means to retain said guard and said handle on said supporting member, said guard being then so arranged with relation to said lever that the latter cannot be moved to close said switch.

ERIC H. BRADLEY. 

